As the Navy requires increased data throughput via satellite communications at sea, the need for a vessel based SATCOM multi-band antenna operating at both C and Ku-bands is on the rise. The design of a compact, high performance, simultaneous C and Ku-band antenna and feed presents many technical challenges. Such challenges include mechanical packaging of the feed components with short focal length optics, broadband axial ratio that is less than 0.75 dB, and broadband high efficiency. This paper describes the design and testing of a multi-band coaxial antenna subsystem as part of the Navy Commercial Broadband Satellite Program (CBSP). The subsystem includes capability to switch among linear and circular polarization at C-band as well as adjustable linear polarization at Ku-band. Both software simulations and test data are presented for the antenna performance.
